Scientists Find Way to Provide Long-Term Relief from a Hormonal Cause of High Blood Pressure in Some Patients

The researchers followed 14 patients from eight medical centers in the United States. All participants received drugs from a new class for six to 12 months. The treatment was designed to suppress excessive production of aldosterone, a hormone that causes the kidneys to retain sodium and thereby contributes to elevated blood pressure.

Excess aldosterone can cause primary aldosteronism, a condition estimated to account for 5% to 10% of hypertension cases. It is often associated with benign nodules in the adrenal glands. Until now, in some cases, the definitive way to eliminate the source of the hormonal imbalance has been surgical removal of an entire adrenal gland.

During follow-up of up to two years after the end of drug treatment, the main indicator of excessive aldosterone production remained 99% below its baseline level. Average blood pressure fell by 25 points on the blood pressure measurement scale, and nearly one-quarter of participants achieved normal blood pressure without taking other medications.

Unlike conventional antihypertensive drugs, which control blood pressure, the new approach may target the underlying mechanism of the disease. However, the study was small, so it is too early to conclude that the treatment provides a lasting cure for most patients with hypertension.

Study leader Professor Morris Brown, an expert in endocrine hypertension, described the results as encouraging while emphasizing the need for caution in interpreting the findings. Researchers are now conducting a larger trial, called ELIXIR, to determine whether a time-limited course of these drugs can indeed eliminate the hormonal cause of high blood pressure over the long term.